Campbell's '05 win was his summit

NBC golf commentator Johnny Miller, who won the 1973 U.S. Open at Oakmont, said recently that winning the American national golf championship is just like someone making the summit at Mount Everest.

"It's such a highlight that the Open almost can take your breath away," Miller said. "It's like, 'Wow, I made it to Everest. I think I'm going to take a vacation for a while.'"

Campbell, 39, has been on an unintended vacation ever since. Campbell always has been a hot and cold player, but he couldn't be any colder than he is now. In three years he has not won a tournament on any tour, and he's tried the PGA, European and even the Nationwide Tour. He has missed 10 cuts this year alone, including one on the Nationwide Tour in his native New Zealand.

He has slipped to being ranked 339th in the world. Everest seems like a long time ago.

"The thing about that is no one teaches you how to climb back down Everest again," Campbell said. "People die coming down. They've reached their goal in life to climb Everest, like me winning a major. What's on the other end? It's frustrating, very frustrating indeed. I just know I have another five years. It's up to me to play and try and win tournaments around the world."

Campbell said the hangover from winning the U.S. Open came in the form of "expectations from fans and everyone else." But Campbell said his personal life has never been better.

"I've done a lot of wonderful things with charity stuff. I've raised money for kids. So it hasn't been a total disaster. My golf hasn't been that great, but my personal life, my life off the golf course has been fantastic."

Still, he misses holding a trophy.

"I miss the success," he said. "I miss the winning. The reason why I play this game is to win. It's been three years since the last time I had a trophy in my hands, so I actually hope to do well here. I know I've won one of the toughest golf tournaments in the world against a top field, with Tiger two shots behind me. That's pretty daunting stuff. ... I know the goods are there. It just needs to come out again."

COURSE GETTING HARDER

The USGA got exactly what it wanted with the weather yesterday. The sun came out in midmorning and the breeze picked up, which served to dry out the greens and make them firmer.

"It is absolutely right where we want it," said USGA Vice President Jim Hyler. "It is absolutely dialed in. The green speed, the firmness, the rough cut, the fairway conditions, it's absolutely where we want it."

Jason Gore noticed the difference.

"I got here Saturday night and it's a completely different golf course today. The greens have all of a sudden miraculously firmed up," Gore said with a smile. "It's funny how the USGA does that. The sun is out today and it's going to bake it. The golf course is going to get thirsty by Sunday.

Everybody's saying how fair it's going to be, but I don't think they understand. When the greens get like cart paths, it's going to be brutal."

MALLINGER UPDATE

John Mallinger, formerly of Escondido and now living in Long Beach, is part of a foursome of golfers -- John Merrick, Peter Tomasulo and Craig Barlow -- from the Virginia Country Club who qualified for the Open here.

They all share the same teacher, Jamie Mulligan, who is the chief operations officer and head pro at Virginia CC.

"Having four of us qualify is pretty rare," Mallinger said yesterday. "It's a pretty big deal for Jamie and all of us. It's what Jamie works for and what we work for."

Said Mulligan: "We are so proud of these young men and all they do, but this is a truly special accomplishment."

Mallinger, 28, who earned $1,681,794 last year, second among rookies on tour, is off to another great start this year. He posted a second consecutive third at the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am, was seventh at the Honda Classic and 10th at the Memorial. He finished 23rd at the Buick Invitational at Torrey in January and has made the cut in all three Buick Invitationals he's played.

"I just feel comfortable out here," he said. "It doesn't feel too much like an Open for me, and that's a big thing. The weather, the grass, the people, my family, my friends, I'm just comfortable being here. I'm definitely looking forward to playing this week. What I've learned about playing in the Open is that par is par out here, and you have to respect it, especially when you come to a golf course like this. It's a little different animal. You have to accept what the golf course gives you. You're looking at a lot of 35- and 40-foot putts for par."

Ben Curtis, 31, is wearing the Chargers colors and logo this week, part of his deal with Reebok to wear the colors of the NFL team in the city in which he plays.

Yesterday, place-kicker Nate Kaeding and punter Mike Scifres presented Curtis with his powder blue Chargers shirts to wear this week as part of the NFL sponsorship. Curtis donates $5,000 a birdie, with a minimum of $20,000 a tournament to prostate cancer research. He'll also donate $1 million if he makes a hole-in-one on Sunday. Kaeding was following fellow Iowan Zach Johnson yesterday. He grew up a few miles from Johnson.

NOTABLE

British amateur Gary Wolstenholme, a first alternate, drew into the field when Sean O'Hair withdrew. The two-time British Amateur champion who has played in two Masters and two British Opens now gets to play in the U.S. Open. Wolstenholme is England's most decorated amateur, having played on six Walker Cup teams for Great Britain and Ireland.